The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Appear \Ap*pear"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Appeared; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Appearing.] [OE. apperen, aperen, OF. aparoir, F.
   apparoir, fr. L. appar?re to appear + par?reto come forth, to
   be visible; prob. from the same root as par?re to produce.
   Cf. Apparent, Parent, Peer, v. i.]
   1. To come or be in sight; to be in view; to become visible.
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            And God . . . said, Let . . . the dry land appear.
                                                  --Gen. i. 9.
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   2. To come before the public; as, a great writer appeared at
      that time.
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   3. To stand in presence of some authority, tribunal, or
      superior person, to answer a charge, plead a cause, or the
      like; to present one's self as a party or advocate before
      a court, or as a person to be tried.
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            We must all appear before the judgment seat. --2
                                                  Cor. v. 10.
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            One ruffian escaped because no prosecutor dared to
            appear.                               --Macaulay.
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   4. To become visible to the apprehension of the mind; to be
      known as a subject of observation or comprehension, or as
      a thing proved; to be obvious or manifest.
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            It doth not yet appear what we shall be. --1 John
                                                  iii. 2.
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            Of their vain contest appeared no end. --Milton.
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   5. To seem; to have a certain semblance; to look.
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            They disfigure their faces, that they may appear
            unto men to fast.                     --Matt. vi.
                                                  16.
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   Syn: To seem; look. See Seem.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

appearing
    n 1: formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in
         an action [syn: appearance, appearing, coming into
         court]